Bearing seal construction for drawing rolls



Nov. 22, 1955 E. B. ROBINSON ET AL BEARING SEAL CONSTRUCTION FOR DRAWING ROLLS Filed Jan. 19, 1953 5 IF; H24

62.42am: Jncxswvdbxr/mr, I N VE NTORS.

BY 3mm ATTORNEYS.

.Tthisdnvention relates. to-textile machinery and, more especially, to an improved bearing seal particularly .adaptedtforause with antivfriction bearings associated with the, roller necks or shafts of drawing rolls. and the like, such as are used on drawing frarnes,.spinning frames, twisters, roving frames. and. the, like.

It is the. primary. object ofuthis invention to provide .animproved bearing seal for anti-friction or friction bearings, in whichthe roller necks or shafts of drawing rolls are mounted, which is so constructed as to prevent minute particleshof, lint and the like from enteringthe bearing housings due tothe-influence of static electricity and to also ,prevent lubricant, from escaping from. the bearingthousings. i

.More specifically, it is. an object of this invention to .provide an improved bearingseal-construction for drawing rolls and thelike wherein thedrawing rolls are provided with roller necks of smaller diameter thantthe rolls and which .extend into a bearing housing. The improved bearing seal construction .includes a shallow :CllPr'ShHPEd washervor inner annulusfrhaving a peripheral shoulder thereonwhichifits. against one end of the hearing. housing asthe washer. is inserted :andthe washer per .se vfitsvinside of t the bearing housingand surrounds the rollerneck .of the drawing. roll.

A resilientsealrwasher, preferably made. from feltand preferably impregnated with a suitable lubricant, fits in- .sideof the cup-shaped washer and its inner perpihery .slidablyiand rotatably engages. the outer. perpihery of an annular snap-ring keeper. which I has an inwardly projecting annular .flangeonits outer endrelative. .to the hearing housing whichtfits. against the outer surface of a snap- ..ring carried by the roller. neck.

The outer-endof thesnap-ringkeeper is engaged by'a .radiabcircuit flangeportion of .a substantially frustoconical outer washer which flares outwardly relative to the radialportion thereof and engages the outer surfaceof therannular resilientseal .washer. .The annular radial ,portionlofthefrusto-conical outer washer is engaged at its outer surface by the end of the corresponding drawingw roll to .therebyhold thesameagainst the outer surface of: the snap-ring keeper. The rfirst-namedcup-shaped -washer has projections thereon which engage the .felt .washer .and therebytrnaintainsthefelt zwasher in a .sta-

\tionary position relative to the. housing during rotation tofiilthe roller. neck [and c1116 drawingroll sand whereby the 1 snap-ring, ,t hesnap-ring keeper and the outer frustoconicalwasherrotate with. theudrawing roll .asthe large freetend of the, fnusto=conical washer is biased in engage- .mentwi'th thefeltsea'l washer to thereby. prevent lubricant from escaping from the bearing housing. Also, thevcupshaped washer.and the frus'to-conical washer are made from a non ferrous material, such as brass and the like, and, thus, prevents static electricity from being created *dueto therelative rotationalmovement of thjelfelt Washer and 't-he parts engaged thereby.

= Some of the objects "of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear-es the description "pro- United States Patent 2,724,623 Ratented Nov. 22, .1955

.2 coeds, when taken in connection withithevaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line.1-l in-Figure 3, but showing the proximal ends of correspondingupper and-lower drawing or drafting rolls with the right-hand portions of the drawing rolls being shown in longitudinal section and the left-hand drawing rolls beingshown in elevation and also, the left-hand portion of thebearing'block is shown in elevation with the right-hand portion being broken away to show the manner in which the bearings are mounted therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view looking in the general direction of the arrow indicated at2 in Figure 1, with parts broken away and partsin section to illustrate the improved bearing seal construction;

Figure3 isa fragmentary verticalsectional viewishowing a group of roll bearing blocks and-showing the/manner in which the roller necks are mountedin-the improved bearings and being taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional viewitaken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 2, showing the projections or sprags on the radial portion of thecup-shaped inner washer.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, for purposes of illustration, the improved seal construction for .proved seal construction maybe usedin association with drawing rolls of any machine in -which adrawing :operation is performed such as spinning frames, twisters, roving frames, slubbersandthe like, andfriction 'bearings may also be employed in lieuof anti-frictionibearings as illustrated in the drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figures 1 and 3, apart of one of. the bearingzstands of a drawing frame is broadly indicatedatlO, to "the upper surface of which a plurality of substantially 1U- shaped bearing blocks 11 are adjustably secured in laterally' spaced relation to each other by means of ,corresponding screws 12 which penetrate elongated slots '13 in theframe portion 10. A plurality of saidlbearing stands and the corresponding bearing blocks 11 arespaced lengthwise of the machine, but only oneof-suchlbearingstands is shown in the drawing.

Each of the bearing blocks '11 hasupstandingtspaced portions. 14 and 15 defining a substantially U-shaped'caw ity 16 in which bearing assemblies, to be presently described,.are mounted for rotatably supporting the proximal ends of .upper and lower drawing rolls. Theupperxand lower drawing rolls in the left-hand portion of Figurel are indicated at 20 and 21, respectively, and the upperzand lower drawing rolls in the right-hand portion ofFigure "I are indicated at 22 and 23, respectively. .Only-tlrerproiti- .malends of the upper rolls 2i), 22=and thelower or bottom drawing rolls 21, *23areshown in Figure 1. :HOWCVCIJlt is to..be understoodthat the ends ofthe drawing rolls :remote from those illustrated in Figure 1 .mayvbe rotatably supported inan identical manner to that shown in Figurel.

The drawing rolls.20, 21, 22 and 23 arezusually fluted lengthwise about the peripheries thereof and the bottom .rolls..21 and 23 are driven by conventional'imeans, not

shown, to, in turn, impart rotation to the top rolls 20 and 22 due to inter-engagement of the fluted surfaces of .the rolls. The proximal ends of the toprolls 20 and-22 .are rotatably supported. in respective bearing housings 24 land 25 and the proximal ends of the :bottom drawing rolls. 21 and 23 are rotatably supported in opposite ends ,ofaa common bearing housing-generally designated at 26. Since corresponding ends of the top and bottom rolls 20 and 21 shall bear the same reference characters with the exception of the top roll bearing housing 24.

It will be observed in the right-hand portion of Figure 1 that the ends of the top and bottom rolls 22 and 23 adjacent the bearing block 11 are provided with respective axial bores or cavities 30 and 31 in which'corresponding ends of respective roller necks or shafts 32 and 33 are suitably secured, as by a pressed fit. Of course, as is well known, the proximal ends of the top rolls 20 and 22 are each provided with an individual shaft or roller neck such as the shaft 32 while the proximal ends of the bottom rolls 21 and 23 are connected in an identical manner to opposite ends of the shaft 33 which is common to the proximal ends of the bottom drawing rolls 21 and 23.

The shaft or roller neck 33 extends through the cavity 16 in the corresponding bearing block 11 and is loosely surrounded by the tubular bearing housing 26. The bearing housing 26 has a reduced central portion 35 and enlarged opposite end portions 36 which are disposed astride the bearing block 11. The medial portion 35 of the tubular bearing housing 26 usually rests upon the bottom of the cavity 16 defined by the upstanding portions 14 and 15 of the bearing block 11 and the reduced portion 35 is provided with flats 40 on opposite sides thereof which engage the proximal surfaces of the upstanding portions 14 and 15 to prevent rotation of the bearing housing 26. The flats 40 may be eliminated, if desired, because they are conventional.

The bearing housing 24 and 25 also each has enlarged outer portions 41 and a reduced inner portion 42, the proximal ends of the reduced inner portions 42 terminating in close proximity to each other in the corresponding cavities '16. The diameters of the enlarged end portions 36 and 41 of the respective bottom and top bearing housings 26 and 25 are preferably equal to the pitch diameter of the flutes formed in the peripheries of the drawing rolls 20, 21, 22 and 23. In order to urge the top rolls 2i) and 22 into engagement with the bottom rolls 21 and 23, the enlarged portions 41 of the top roll bearing housings 24 and 25 are each provided with a peripheral groove 43 in which a hook portion 44 of a conventional weight bar 45 is positioned, a suitable weight, not shown, usually being provided and connected to the lower end of each of the weight bars 45.

The reduced portions 42 of top roll bearing housings 24 and 25 are also provided with flats 46 on opposite sides thereof which slidably fit in the corresponding cavities 16 to prevent rotation of the top roll bearing housings 24 and 25, but permit said housings to move upwardly and downwardly relative to each other and relative to the bearing block 11 according to the variations in thickness of the slivers or roving passing between the top and bottom drawing rolls. The flats 46 may be eliminated, if desired, as they are conventional.

The enlarged portions 36 and 41 of the respective housings 26 and 25 are each provided with a circular cavity or bore 50 in the outer end thereof which has one or more axially spaced circularly arranged rows of balls 51 there in, there being a single row of balls 51 illustrated in the enlarged portion 36 of the bottom roll bearing housing 26 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and two circularly arranged rows of the balls 51 are shown in the outer end of the top roll bearing housing 25, thus forming anti-friction bearing units or assemblies of each of the bearing housings 24, 25, and 26. The roller necks 32 and 33 are provided with peripheral grooves 52 which correspond to the circular rows of balls 51 and, since these circular rows of balls 51 are positioned in corresponding grooves in the walls of the bores 50, the circular rows of balls 51 thereby maintain the shafts 32 and 33 in the corresponding bearing housings.

Now, in order to prevent lint and other foreign matter from entering and collecting in each of the circular cavities or bores 50 of the bearing housings 24, 25 and 26 and to prevent the development of static electricity due to relative rotational movement between the shafts 32 and 33 and the corresponding housings 24, 25 and 26, we have provided an improved annular seal assembly disposed between the outer ends of the enlarged portions 36 and 41 of the corresponding bearing housings 24, 25 and 26 and the adjacent ends of the top and bottom rolls 20, 22, 21 and 23 which will now be described in detail.

Since the structure of the bearing seal assembly is the same for each of the rolls20, 21, 22 and 23, only the annular bearing seal assembly shown in the lower righthand portion of Figure 1 associated with the bottom roll 23 and the bearing housing 26 will be described in detail, since this is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 2. Like reference characters will apply to all of the bearing seal assemblies disposed at the proximal ends of the top rolls 20, 22 and the bottom rolls 21, 23.

Each of the improved annular bearing seal assemblies comprises an inner annulus or cup-shaped washer broadly designated at and an outer annulus or frustoconical washer broadly designated at 61. Each of the annuii 60 and 61 is made from a non-ferrous material; preferably brass or aluminum. The inner annulus 60 serves primarily as a housing for the annular bearing seal assembly and comprises an annular radial portion 62, bent outwardly parallel to the axis thereof to form a peripheral outer wall 63 which extends outwardly in parallel relation to the axis of the cup-shaped member 60 and is then bent outwardly radially to form a shoulder portion 64. r

The enlarged portion 36 of the housing 26 has a shallow circular cavity therein which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the bore 50 and in which the cup-shaped member 60 is fixed, preferably by a light pressed fit, and, in which instance, the annular radial portion 62 fits against the bottom cavity or peripheral groove 65 and the flange or shoulder portion 64 fits against the outer end of the enlarged portion 36 of the housing 26.

A porous ring 66 of closely packed fibers, such as felt and the like, fits against the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion 65 of the cup-shaped member 66 and also fits against the outer surface of the annular radial portion 62 relative to the cavity or bore 50. The fibrous ring is preferably impregnated with a suitable lubricant. The inner diameter of the fibrous ring 66 is substantially greater than the diameter of the corresponding roller neck or shaft 33 and is held in fixed relation to the cup-shaped member 60 by means of a plurality of circularly arranged projections or sprags 67 formed on the outer surface of the annular radial portion 62 of the cup-shaped member 60.

An annular retaining member or snap-ring keeper 70 is positioned within the fibrous ring 66 and is adapted to slidably engage the inner surface of the fibrous ring 66. The retaining ring or snap-ring keeper 70 is preferably L-shaped in longitudinal section, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, thus providing a shoulder thereon which is adapted to engage a conventional snap-ring 71 positioned in a peripheral groove 72 provided therefor in the roller neck or shaft 33. The snap-ring 71 and the annular retaining member. 70 may be made from ferrous metal, such as steel and the like, if desired.

Now, the most important feature of the present invention is the manner in which the outer annulus or frusto-conical member 61 is constructed. The outer annulus or frusto-conical washer 61 comprises a radial annular portion 75 which closely encircles the shaft or roller neck 33 and extends outwardly substantially equal to the height of {the .shoulder ,portion .of ..'the snap-ring keeper -70 and is then. bent inwardly toward 'the' bore '50, but outwardly at .an angle relative to the axis of the .shaft or roller neck 33 to form a'frusto-conical portion 76.Whose-.free end extends inwardly toward :the bore 50 slightly beyond the outer surface of the flange or shoulider portion 64 of the. cup-shaped inner Iannulus 60 and,

thus, impingesagainst.theouter surface. of the annular fibrous ring 66 totcausethe fibrous material from which the: ring. 66 is. made :to be more tightly compressedbetween thefreerend ofthe ffrusto conical portion 76 of the .outer .annulus 61 and thebottom or annular radial portion 62 of the inner. annulus or cup-shaped member 60 than it: is:.at. the portion-thereof whichrengages the .outersurface of the. snap-ringkeeper 70.

Thefibrous material from which. the ringf66 is made is preferably impregnated withha suitable lubricant and, thus,.the outerannulus 6lynot only assists in retaining said :sfibrousring 66 .in-thehousingformed of theinner .annulus or cup-shaped ..member .60, tbutalso prevents the lubricant. with whichsthe fibrous washer 1 or Y ring. .66 :is

impregnated from escaping. .Ofcourse, the 'fibrous ring 66 alsoprevents any lubricant within thetcorresponding bore 50 from escaping from the housing :26.

When the correspondingend of the bottom -.roll 123 is pressed ontothe shaft oryroller neck 33, the end of the drawing roll .23 bears against theouter surface of the .annular radial portion '75 of the: outer :annulus 1 or frusto- .conical washer 61 andrforces the same, along with the snap-ring keeper 70 toward the enlarged portion .36 of the bearing housing 26 until the keeper 70-engages the -snap-ring 71.

A running clearanceor tolerance is provided between the inner periphery of the annular radial-portion oribottom 62ofathe inner annulus or cupj-shaped member-60 andtheshaft or roller neck 33, and, "therefore, the inner annulus or cup-shaped memberu-60 and the fibrous'ring 66 remain stationaryrwhile the Isnap-ringfll, the snapring keeper 7 and r the 1 outer annulus or .frusto-conical washer 61 rotate with the bottom roll 23 iand the I roller neckor shaft 33.

Since it is preferable that a' suitable lubricantis'placed -intheubearing housing24, 25, and 26 before the corresponding roller necks tor shaftsr32 and 33 =arewinserted .th erein or, .at least, before the :drawing rolls are mounted mm the noller necks, 1 a. suitable lubricant -sealw or .0 ring 80 is provided in each of the cavities or bores.50,=sthe wall of each of the cavitiesorbores 50 having a pcripheral groove 81therein which is spaced inwardly slightly from "the outer I end of the corresponding enrlarged portion of each housing 24, I25, and :26. and in whichrthe corresponding 0 ring -l80aisgpositioned. The

:0 :rings 80Mare preferably madefrom rubber ror a syn- It is thus seen that we have provided an improved bear-j ing seal assembly for the roller necks of drawing rolls wherein the fibrous ring 66 is pressed inwardly toward the inner annulus 60 by the free edge of the frusto-conical portion 76 of the outer annulus 61 thus preventing lubricant from escaping from the lubricant impregnated fibrous ring 66 and also assisting in preventing lubricant from escaping from the housings 24, 25, and 26. Also, since the inner and outer annuli 60 and 61 are made from a non-ferrous material and the roller necks and the corre sponding top and bottom rolls rotate with the outer annuli 61 relative to the corresponding bearing housings 24,."25 and'26 and "the! inner annuli 60, the'innerfand outerfannu1i'60 and .61 serve "as shields tdprevenfstatic :electricity "from being created by the relatively; rotating ,parts. j'Thus, lint andthelike is,preventedffrom working its way throughflthe fibrous seal ring 66:ashas"heretdfore "been. the case, and which, heretofore," has. ultimately perjrnittedjthe particles of lint to pass'lthrough the'fibrous *ring66.

lIn vthe drawings and specification 'therejhas been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used ina generic and .descriptive sense only, and not fortpurposes oflimitation, the scope of the. invention being defined in [the claims.

We claim: p

1. Abearing seal for the roller necks of drafting rolls and the bearingsfitherefor, wherein thebearingfor each roll end is provided with acircular cavity penetrated by the roller neck of the draftingroll, comprising an .inner annulus having an annular radialaportion and an axially extending wall portion integral with the outerperiphery of said annular radial portion the inner periphery of the said annular radialportion closely encircling Ithekroller neck, a resilient porousring encircling said roller neck andbeing disposed within the axially extending wall of said inner annulus, the annular radial portion having projections formed in the outer surface thereof against'which the'porous. ring fits, the proximal end of said jdrafting ,roll being spaced from the outer end of said bearing, an

outer annulus having an annular radial portion. encircling said roller'neck and being adapted, to rotate in fixed relationwith the. rollerneck and the correspondingtdrafting .roll, afisubstantially frusto-conical portion integral with the ,annularradial .portion of said outer annulus and having a large end. remote from the annularradial portion of" the outer annulus, and the .large end of said outer annulus being so positioned relative to the'inner annulus as to compress the resilient .porous ring at its point of contact therewith and at apoint radially inwardly of'the periphery of the porous ring.

2. 'Abearingseal for the roller necks of. drafting rolls andthe bearings therefor, wherein the bearing for each roll'end 'isprovided. with a circular cavity penetrated by theroller neckof the drafting. roll, comprising an inner annulus "having. an. annular radial portion and an axially extending wall portion integral with the outer periphery *ofsaid annular radial portion,the inner periphery of the said annular radial portion closely encircling the roller neck, aresilient porous ring encircling said roller neck "and-beingdispose'd within the axially extending wall of saidiuner annulus, the proximal end ofsaid drafting, roll being spaced from the outer end of said bearing, an outer annulus having an annular radial portion encircling said Teller-neck andbeing adapted to rotate in" fixed relation with the roller neck and the corresponding drafting roll, a substantially frusto-conical portion integral with the annular radial portion of said outer annulus and having a large end remote from the annular radial portion of the outer annulus, the large end of said outer annulus being so positioned relative to the inner annulus as to compress the resilient porous ring at its point of contact therewith and at a point radially inwardly of the wall of the inner annulus, and the inner and outer annuli being made from a non-magnetic material to prevent static electricity from being developed therebetween.

3. A bearing seal for the roller necks of drafting rolls and the like and the bearings therefor wherein the bearing for each roll end is provided with a circular cavity at its end adjacent the corresponding drafting roll and being penetrated by the roller neck of the drafting roll; said bearing seal comprising an inner annulus fixed in the outer end of the bearing cavity and having an annular wall portion projecting toward the adjacent end of the drafting roll, an annular snap-ring keeper of less external ring positioned about the roller neck and spaced axially from the inner annulus and being disposed closely adjacent the proximal end of said drafting roll, said snap-ring keeper having an inwardly projecting annular flange and I being substantially L-shaped in longitudinal section and the fibrous ring in fixed relation to the inner annulus, an

outer annulus including an annular radial portion engaged at its end adjacent the inner annulus by said flange of the annular snap-ring keeper and being engaged at its outer end by the proximal end of said drafting roll, said outer annulus also having a frusto-conical portion flaring outwardly from the annular radial portion thereof toward the inner annulus, and the distance between the inner annulus and the adjacent end of the frusto-conical portion of the outer annulus being such that the fibrous ring is compressed between the inner annulus and the adjacent end of the outer annulus.

4. A bearing seal for the roller necks of drafting rolls and the like and the bearings therefor wherein the bearing for each roll end is provided with a circular cavity at its end adjacent the corresponding drafting roll and being penetrated by the roller neck of the drafting roll;

said bearing seal comprising an inner annulus fixed in the outer end of thebearing cavity and having an annular wall portion projecting toward the adjacent end of the drafting roll, an annular snap-ring keeper of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the annular wall of the inner annulus surrounding said roller neck, a snap-ring positioned about the roller neck and spaced axially from the inner annulus and being disposed closely adjacent the proximal end of-said drafting roll, said snap-ring keeper having an inwardly projecting annular flange and being substantially L-shaped in longitudinal section and forming a shoulder thereon engaging the outer surface of said snap-ring relative to the inner annulus, a fibrous ring encircling said annular snap-ring keeper and having its outer periphery disposed within the confines of the annular wall of said inner annulus, means maintaining the fibrous ring in fixed relation to the inner annulus, an outer annulus including an annular radial portion engaged at its end adjacent the inner annulus by said flange of the annular snap-ring keeper and being engaged at its outer end by the proximal end of said drafting roll, said outer annulus also having a frusto-conical portion flaring outwardly from the annular radial portion thereof toward the inner annulus, the distance between the inner annulus and the adjacent end of the frustoconical portion of the outer annulus being such that the fibrous ring is compressed between the inner annulus and the adjacent end of the outer annulus, and said inner and outer annuli each being made from a non-magnetic material to prevent static electricity from being developed therebetween during rotation of the roller neck, the snap-ring, the keeper, the drafting roll and the outer annulus relative to the inner annulus, the bearing and the fibrous ring. i

5. A bearing seal for the roller necks of drafting rolls and the bearings therefor, wherein the bearing for each roll end is provided with a circular cavity penetrated by the roller neck of the drafting roll, comprising an inner annuius having an annular radial portion fixed in said cavity, the inner periphery of the said annular radial portion closely encircling the roller neck, a resilient porous ring encircling said roller neck and being disposed against the outer surface of the radial portion of said inner annulus, the outer surface of the inner annulus having projections, means to hold said porous ring in fixed relation to the inner annulus, the proximal end of said drafting roll being spaced from the outer surface of said inner annulus, an outer annulus encircling said roller neck and being adapted to move in fixed relation with the roller neck and the corresponding drafting roll, said outer annulus including a substantially frusto-conical portion having its large end remote from the proximal end of the drafting roll, and the large end of said outer annulus being so positioned relative to the inner annulus as to compress the resilient porous ring at its point of contact therewith and at a point radially inwardly of the outer periphery of the porous ring to press the porous ring against said projections.

6. A bearing seal for drafting rolls and the bearing thereof wherein the bearing for each roll end includes a circular cavity penetrated by the roller neck of a drafting roll comprising an inner annulus fixed in the outer end of the bearing cavity, an outer annulus fixed on the proximate end of the drawing roll, said inner annulus having an axially extending flange spanning the distance between said inner and outer annuli, a porous lubrication ring positioned about said roller neck and confined between the inner' and outer annuli, a snap ring positioned about the roller neck, a retaining member positioned about the roller neck and held in position by the snap ring and having an axially extending portion positioned between the porous ring and the roller neck, the inner and outer annuli being formed of non-magnetic material to prevent static electricity from being formed therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,237,004 King Apr. 1, 1941 2,250,167 Niles et al July 22, 1941 2,465,634 Collins Mar. 29, 1949 

